Sounder.



R. L. WILLIAMS & E. C. WOOD.

SOUNDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, I913- 1 89,027. Y PatentedJune 27, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I- R. L. WILLIAMS & E. C. WOOD.

SOUNDER.

0N FILED APR. 5, 1 9| 3.

APPLIQATI Patented June 27, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[\ITEIRS W 44 aux M 7 "WAY A ull 1111;0 :1 1

ROBERT L. WILLIAMS, OF

CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS A. CORPORATION OF MAINE.

BOSTON, Ann EDWARD TO SUBMARINE SIGNAL COMPANY. or WATERVILLE, MAINE,

C. WOOD, OF SOIJIEBVILLE, MASSA- SOUNDER.

Application filed April 5, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT L. XVILLIAMS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, and EDWARD \Voon, of Somerville, in the county of Mid-' dlesex and said State, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sounders, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is especially adapted to submarine signaling and comprises in its preferred form a rod suitably mounted so that it may be set into vibration mechanically or by electrical means.

In the form of our invention shown 'a rod is suspended at a nodal point and is struck by a weight so that it will give forth a very strong sonorous sound capable of receipt at a great distance. Vibrations so produced have proved much more powerful than those heretofore obtained from a bell, and apparatus constructed according to our invention has made a valuable addition to the art of submarine signaling.

Our invention will be, understood by ref-- erence to the drawings in which one embodiment of it is shown.

Figure 1 is a cross section of a portion of the hull of a ship, showing also our apparatus partly in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the means whereby the apparatus is mounted above the deck. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing a rod mounted midway between its ends.

, A is the hull of a ship which is shown diagrammatically in section and has near its bottoman opening a from which leads up a tube B to a point well above the waterline and preferably up to and above, the deck C by which its upper end is steadied. This outer tube has a water-tight connection with the hull and serves not only for the purpose of maintaining the ship free from water, but also serves to steady the apparatus. This tube B may be in one piece or in sections as may be most convenient. If in sections the joints may be of any convenient type and should be made watertight by packing or otherwise. \Vithin this tube B is mounted the sounder which is supported in a suitable casing which in turn is suspended from the lower end of a pipe E. To suspend the pipe E the tube B has a cover l3 which is in the nature of a disk having an opening through its center through which the pipe E projects upward. This cover PIOJOCtS laterally be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Serial No. 759,079.

yond the tube and is bolted to a collar b of angle-iron Upon the cover B is mounted a sleeve 13 which is bolted thereto by means of an annular angleiron B and within the chamber formed between the sleeve B and the pipe E there are a number of rings B of rubber or other resilient material upon which is supported a ring B of channeliron attached as by screws or rivets to the pipe E. The purpose of this construction is to allow the pipe E such vertical play as it may require in the working of the apparatus, the jar, if any, being taken up by these cushions rather than the deck. The sleeve B also carries a number of arms B the upper end of each of which is bent over as shown and carries an ad usting screw B which rests upon the channel ring 13, so as to limit the upward movement of the pipe E. The tube B is supported upon the deck C by means of a.

ring C of angleiron or in any other desirable way. To the lower end of the pipe E is attached a ring E by means of bolts and a collar E of angleiron, and to the lower end of the ring E is attached by rivets or otherwise the casing D.

F is the sounder which as shown comprises a rod, in practice say eight feet long and eight and a half inches in diameter, or of some other convenient dimensions, made preferably of tool steel. Upon this rod F is shrunk a collar F having a flange F located preferably about its middle, this collar and flange being so located upon the rod F that the flange will be a plane at right angles to the length of the rod F and at substantially its middle, thus forming a node dividing the rod into two vibrating parts. As shown this rod is supported by a ring I), which rests on an annular plate d bolted to a collar (i riveted to the lower end of the casing D. Through this ring D slides a sleeve D threaded on its interior and which is screwed onto the lower end 0 the collar F. The casing D is of somewhat larger diameter than the sleeve D a chamber is formed between the two and in this chamber are a number of resilient rings or cushions D which rest on D and are. of sufficient body to support the flange F so that the rod F is in fict supported on these. cushions. Above the flange F there is a similar construction, viz: a sleeve D threaded and screwed onto the collar F bolted to the top of the tube.

so that thus forming a chamber within which are CIlSlllOIlS D correspondlng to -the cushions -D below the flange and above these cushweight can be taken up by the rubber cushions B, D and D For the purpose of centering the casing D in the lower end of the tube we prefer to provide springs H attached to the outside of the casing D, their free ends being shaped to engage the inner wall of the tube B. They allow the casing D to be lowered in the tube B and at the same time prevent the casing D swinging in the tube B. In order to set the rod F in vibration we have shown a weight G hung by a chain or rope g which passes up over a pulley g and is connected to the piston rod of an automatic steam engine shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

G is. an electro-magnet in circuit with a source of electricity, the circuit closer being located in the pilot house or on the bridge.

G is an armature in the form of a bell crank which engages. the engine valve G when the circuit is broken and the electromagnet is dead, but which is disengaged from the valve whenattracted by the electromagnet and allows the weight to fall, pulling the piston G to the right in Fig. 1. This movementof the piston also opens the valve allowing the steam to enter the chamber in frontof the piston so that it will drive back the piston, lifting the weight and resetting the parts for another blow. These parts are not fully described as they form no part of our invention and the construction shown is only intended to be illustrative of a type of engine and control which may be used for the purpose of operating the weight. The engine may be hung below the upper deck G or supported in any desired way.

This apparatus, generally speaking, is like the ordinary pile driver apparatus wherein a weight is alternately raised and dropped onto a pile, in the present case the weight being raised and dropped onto the rod F, and its time of raising and dropping being controlled by means of a circuit closer which closes the circuit through the magnet G which controls the valve of the engine.

The operation of ourdevice will be no doubt readily understood from what has been said above. I The engine being set in operation, will alternately lift and drop the weight (1? upon the upper end of the rod and if properly proportioned will set the entire rod into vibration. These vibrations will be transmitted to the water outside the ship (when the rod is hung as shown in the drawings) and sound waves of great strength will radiate from the end thereof capable of being received and recognized at a distance of many miles from the source of origin. By means of apparatus now well known in the art the engine may be so operated through the instrumentality of the control as to give a predetermined number of blows at proper intervals to provide a code signal such as can be readily heard by microphones such as are nowcarried on many ships and located well below the water line to receive signals of such character.

lVe do not mean to limit ourselves to the exact construction shown as other ways may be utilized for supporting the rod and for setting it in vibration, nor do we mean to limit ourselves to such a mounting of the rod that its lower end will be in the water outside a ship. \Ve have found, however, that such a device, said eight feet in length and eight and a half inches in diameter, when so hung that its lower end projects said five or six inches below the hull of a ship and struck vigorously, will carry many miles and be very effective in signaling either from ship to shore or from ship to ship. The rod and its casing may be otherwise supported, however. F or the best results, so far as we have been able to ascertain, one extremity should be submerged in water. This water, however, may be the water in a tank located on board ship. Moreover the casing holding the rod may be supported from a floating buoy or a buoy anchored below the surface of the water or it may be otherwise supported, say upon an ordinary tripod standing upon bottom. It is also capable of being "suspended from a pier or temporarily from a davit or crane over a ships side in such way as to bring its lower extremity preferably some distance below the water line.

Other ways of suspending the casing and setting the rod into vibration will occur to those skilled in the art which ways will come within the scope of our invention as set out in the claims. The mounting of the rod need not be midway between its ends, but should be at some point where a node might naturally be made.

lVhat we claim as our. invention is 1. A device of the kind described comprising a resonant body and means for supporting it at a vibration node with its extremities in different sound mediums.

2. A device of the kindidescribcd comprising a resonant body and yielding means adapted to support said resonant body with its extremities in different sound mediums.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a resonant body, yielding means for supporting it, and a casing adapted to provide a watertight inclosure for said supporting means.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a resonant body, means for supporting it at a vibration'node, and a casing adapted to provide a watertight inclosure for said supporting means, and means for supporting said device whereby the extremities of said body will be in ditierent sound mediums.

A device of the kind described comprising a vibratory body, means for supporting it at a vibration node with its extremities in different sound mediums, and means operable from a distance whereby its vibrations may be controlled. 1

6. A device of the kind described comprising a resonant body, means for supporting it at a vibration node with its extremities in different sound mediums, and means located in the water and for vibrating said resonant body.

7. A device of the kind described comprising a floating body, a resonant body, and means mounted in said floating body adapted to support'said resonant body at a vibration node with the extremities of said resonant body in diflerent sound -mediums.

8. A device of the kind described comprising a floating body, a resonant body, means mounted in said floating body for supporting said resonant body at a "ibration node with the extremities of said resonant body in diflerent sound mediums, and means for vibrating said resonant body.

9. A device of the kind described comprising a body adapted to float in water, a resonant body and yielding means located in said floating body for supporting the extremities of said resonant body in different sound mediums, and means adapted to protect one end of said resonant body from contact with the water.

10. A device of the kind described adapted for submarine signaling and comprising a body adapted to float in water, a resonant body and watertight means adapted to support said resonant body at a vibration node with its extremities in different sound mediums.

11. A device of the kind described adapted for submarine signaling and comprising a resonant body and means for supporting it yieldingly adapted to engage it at :1 vibration node. and means whereby said body may be vibrated longitudinally.

12. In a device of the kind described, in combination. a body adapted to be vibrated longitudinally. yielding means for supporting it at a vibration node, and means for striking one end of said body whereby said body will be adapted to yield longitudinally when struck.

13. In a device of the kind described, a floating body. a vibratory body, means mounted in said floating body for supporting said vibratory body at a vibration node with one extremity of said vibratory body the other in the and means operable from a distance air,

be set up in said whereby vibrations may vibratory body.

14. A device of the kind described comprising a vibratory body, means adapted to support it at a vibration node, means whereby one end of said vibratory body will be surrounded by liquid, the other end thereof being in a gas, and means for vibrating said body adapted to originate vibrations in the opposite end of said vibratory bodyfrom that in contact with the liquid.

15. A signaling device of the kind described comprising a tube the lower end of which is adapted to contain water, a vibratory body, and means whereby one end of it will be in water and comprising a in said tube, and means located in said casing and adapted to engage said. vibratorybody.

16. A device of the kind described comprising a main chamber, a vibratory body, a watertight casing mounted in said main chamber and means attached tosaid vibratorybody whereby it may be supported, and means within said casing adapted to support said vibratory-body-supporting means.

17. In a device of the kind described, a rod, a collar located about said rod, a casing surrounding said collar said collar being attached to said casing, and means located in said casing whereby said collar and said rod will be supported.

18. In a device of the kind described, a rod, a collar located about said rod, a casing surrounding said collar, and yielding means located within said casing whereby said collar and said rod will be supported.

19. In a device of the kind described, a rod, a collar located about said rod, a compartment surrounding said collar, and yielding means located within said compartment whereby said collar and said rod may be allowed longitudinal movement in either direction.

20. In a device of the kind described, a rod, a collar located about said rod, a water tight compartment surrounding said collar, and means located within said compartment whereby said collar and said rod will be supported, in combination with a compartment containing water, said watertight compartment being supported therein with the lower end of said rod located in water and the upper end free therefrom.

21. A device of the kind described comprising a floating body, a tube mounted therein open at its lower end whereby it may contain water, a rod located in said tube and supported whereby its lower end will be located in the water in said tube and its upper end be free therefrom, and means for supporting said rod comprising a watertight chamber and means located for supporting ittherein to engage said rod about a vibration node, and means for supporting said Watertight chamber adapted to be connected to the water-free end of said tube, in combi nation with means located in said tube adapted to act upon the Water-free end of said rod to excite vibrations in said rod.

22. In a device of the kind described, a floating body, a water chamber located therein, a sound emitting vibratory body, means for supporting it whereby one end will be in the Water and Will project beyond said water chamber and the other end out of the water, and, means for acting upon the waterfree end of said vibratory body to excite vibrations in said body.

23. In a sounder adapted for submarine signaling, a floating body, a tubular chamber mounted therein the lower end of which is open .to the water, the upper end of said chamber being supported above the Water line, a pipe located in said-chamber and supported yieldingly thereby, a Watertight water chamber, and means operable in said casing to excite vibrations in said rod.

ROBERT L. VILLIAMS. EDVARD C. VOOD. \Vitnesses as to R. L. Villiams:

GEORGE O. G. COALE, BI. E. FLAIIERTY. Vitnesses as to Edward C. Wood:

ROBERT VARD, J12, CU'RTIS DELANO. 

